Stuffed in between two fat guys, bring an inflatable cushion. Don’t open your laptop on the little table. The guy in front will lean back and smoosh your kneecaps! Hope seatmates recently showered, didn't smoke cigars, eat beans nor garlic. If your smartphone doesn’t soothe you during the flight, cross arms, close eyes, sit quietly and murmur ummmm a thousand times.

Frank Sinatra Sings At The Brooklyn Bridge

Anyone remember the 1947 movie, It Happened In Brooklyn? Sinatra portrayed a soldier returning home after World War 2. His co-star was the venerable Jimmy Durante.

The Brooklyn Bridge is a 150-year-old New York City suspension structure in Manhattan that crosses over the East River into Brooklyn. Next time you visit the area, walk, drive, scoot and/or selfie across the span with smartphone camera clicking as you experience the beautiful views. Maybe along the way, you’ll sing the Sinatra song:

You’ll miss her most when you roam,'Cause you'll think of her and think of home, The good old Brooklyn Bridge.

Consider Taking Your Pet On A Long Driving Trip

OK, you want to take Fido and/or Fluffy with you. If on the road for more than a night or two, consider ways to make your pets comfortable and safe. Stop at least once every two hours to give your leashed pets food, water, exercise and toilet time. If your travel partner is a cat, bring along a sand box.

When in heavy traffic with frequent sudden stops, use safe restraining straps for pets. When booking a hotel, motel or private house, be sure to know the rules for visiting pets. Websites, such as BringFido.com, list thousands of pet friendly lodgings, restaurants, clubs, beaches and other places that accept and have facilities for pets.

Will Airlines Ever Run Out Of Varieties Of Seat Names?

It seems almost every day, they come up with new names for seats, from extra grossly overpriced luxury to premium economy to super-cheap steerage. We guess some of the names can be interpreted by the amount of space the passenger has in the seat.

That means the cheapest economy seat has barely enough room to place your bottom and legs, and you're often sardined between two 500-pound seat mates. The only flight attendants you’ll see is one sneering at you while passing by. Of course, the most expensive is in a private booth, with a wide seat that folds into a luxury bed with giant TV screen and friendly attendant.

When booking your next flight, be sure to review all the seat choices, descriptions and, of course, prices. If your journey is less than two hours long, and you’re on a budget, you may be able to survive crowded among the other peasants in the cheapest seats.

Don’t Get Faked Out By A Phony Private Home Rental

With Airbnb and other legit short-term home rental agencies getting more popular, it’s inevitable that greedy imitators are now in the business. Often they’re mom and pop homes where the owners want to make some quick bucks from gullible tourists.

Some home rentals, as handled by established agencies, are very good. However, if you pay for the wrong one directly from the owner, you may find it below par in cleanliness. It could also be far away from beach, restaurants, clubs and other expected conveniences of a vacation hotel stay.

The best way to rent a private home is with Airbnb or other legitimate agency. By constantly checking with that resource, you’ll be informed of developments and updates with potential rentals. Beyond detailed descriptions of the home, you’ll get info about fees, convenience, location, history and other useful facts.